Veg*n Indian Dinner at Samudra in Jackson Heights, Queens!

*Dinner is from 7pm-9pm, one seating only. Please try to arrive promptly at 7pm, but you may arrive as late as 7:30 if needed.*

While it might feel cold outside, spring is just around the corner (or so we would like to think :-)! Let's enjoy the warmth of superb Indian food and good company at Samudra Vegetarian Indian Restaurant in Jackson Heights, Queens! This new veggie gem just opened on Halloween last year in the hotspot of authentic Indian restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores catering to a large Indian community. Samudra serves both South Indian and North Indian specialities that will tantalize your taste buds with spicy aromas and deliciously bold flavors!

I've dined here twice at Samudra so far and everything I've tried is amazing! Here's the proof--these are my photos of the restaurant and the fabulous food! (Exception: I borrowed the dosa photo from their Facebook page, but I tried one that went faster than I could snap at it!)

Samudra doesn't have a website yet, but here is a link to their Facebook page with their menu and news updates:

This DNA Info article describes how the owner, Jagdish Shetty, who has worked at a Sheraton Hotel for the past 28 years, saved up so he could open his own restaurant--something like a page out of the American Dream:

"In his nearly three decades in the city, Shetty worked nearly every job inside the large hotel, he said — from waiter to bartender and finally as an engineer.

But he always had his mind on something else.

"I had a dream to open a restaurant in New York," Shetty, 53, said.

His dream came true on Halloween, when he opened Samudra Restaurant, a vegetarian eatery serving Indian dishes from both the southern and northern parts of the country.

He let his wife, who is a stay-at-home mom to their 10-year-old twin daughters, select the name, which means "ocean" in Hindi, he said.

Notable items on the menu include dosas, served both plain and with fillings that include masala, paneer or spinach.

The Samudra specials highlight some of Shetty's favorites, like the upma, which is Cream of Wheat cooked with onions and Indian herbs; and Mumbai pav bhaji, which is a mix of vegetables cooked in tomato gravy and served with an Indian-style burger bun.

The menu also includes close to 20 curries, as well as a full selection of naan and roti.

The restaurateur said he chose Jackson Heights because of its popularity, especially with Indian restaurants. He said he hopes Samudra can quickly become a part of the local food scene.

"I want to make a name — good service and good food," he said. "Not for the money, for the name."

By Subway: Take the 7 train to the 74th Street-Broadway stop or the E, F, M, or R train to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue. Walk one block north on 74th Street or 75th Street and turn right on 37th Avenue. Samudra will be on your right with a bright flashing sign to welcome to you.

*If you come by car, please do check the meters for guidance and times of enforcement. Parking can be a challenge in this area since it is a busy commercial district, so please allow for extra time.

A former member

Delicious South and North Indian vegetarian food, with a gracious staff and owner. It was a great pleasure to hang out with our wonderful members. Huge thanks to Jade for her perfect organizing and hosting of this event. Jade, next time don't give all your food away, even though I know you'd like to. :)

Apologies, something came up last minute. But glad this place is in my neighborhood so I will most likely go sometime this weekend. Hope everyone else has a lovely time! Thank you Jade for bringing this place up for everyone!

Do you love trying new vegetarian & vegan restaurants? Do you enjoy the company of fellow vegetarians & vegans? Are you occasionally frustrated that your meat-eating friends "don't get it," and do you wish to dine with others that have the same enthusiasm for vegetarian and vegan food that you do?

Welcome to our group. What I am especially proud of is all the wonderful members we have. We seem to attract some of the very nicest, most thoughtful people in New York. Given the focus of our group, I am not surprised.

New York has many excellent vegetarian and vegan restaurants, and new ones are opening all the time. Join us as we explore them all, and enjoy dining with some of the kindest, most gracious, most socially-conscious people in New York.

Plus, join us as we go out on the town to vegetarian and vegan friendly bars and lounges. And partake when we go to visit some outstanding music venues. Great ways to have delightful nights on the town in the company of a fun and friendly group of vegetarians and vegans.

We warmly welcome all vegetarians and vegans as well as those that are considering a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Our meetup group was profiled in a news story on CNN's Headline News channel. Check out the video.

Imagine having a community behind you

I decided to start Reno Motorcycle Riders Group because I wanted to be part of a group of people who enjoyed my passion... I was excited and nervous. Our group has grown by leaps and bounds. I never thought it would be this big.